First Step To Follow

Statistics are bleak about changing course spiritually as an adult. Twenty years ago, nine of ten people who identified as having made a personal commitment to Jesus that remains relevant today did so as a child. 

A decade ago, I would have included myself in that group. I called myself a Christian. I did all the outward Christian activities and did the religious training. But after a near-death experience that generated the “want to” get to KNOW God, I realized my foundation wasn’t firm. Matthew 7:24 

A lot has changed in the last several decades. We live in a post-Christian culture. Got Questions social media site answering biblical questions says this about our post-Christian culture and what the term Christian means these days. “A large proportion of those exhibiting a post-Christian worldview may still identify themselves with the term Christian. A label doesn’t replace reality, however. 2 Corinthians 13:5  Many self-identified “Christians” in a post-Christian society lack basic knowledge of biblical faith.” [What does it mean for a society to be post-Christian?] 

So what happened? Why didn’t the spiritual formation process work for me as a child? What’s going on with Christian culture in general?

I’ve thought about that a lot. I thank my parents for introducing me to Jesus through the church. Yet, just like any other relationship you’d nourish and tend to deepen, there must be intention. Religious activities once or twice a week were not enough to overcome the spiritual formation from culture and my natural human bend away from God.

We tend to do what we’ve always done in a spiritual sense. But, with a real relationship, we become something different and set apart.

Dallas Willard, a Christian philosopher, defines spiritual formation in this way. “Spiritual formation of the Christian basically refers to the Spirit-driven process of forming the inner world of the human self in such a way that it becomes like the inner being of Christ himself.” He goes on to say, “Spiritual formation is no passive process. But Christlikeness of the inner being is not a human attainment. It is finally, a gift of grace.”

I wasn’t ready to say yes at age 13 at confirmation. God hadn’t opened my eyes yet. God hadn’t yet initiated the faith needed to believe. Hebrews 12:2  

I don’t think I’m alone in this – many people have this story.

Our parents can’t choose Jesus for us. Religious education can’t drill it in our heads. Though informative and well-meaning, classes cannot examine our hearts and see if we are serious. How can we confirm in our hearts what God hasn’t first initiated and what we haven’t by an act of voluntary will chosen??

When the new church I began attending asked for proof of a believer’s baptism, I struggled with the idea that my infant baptism and confirmation weren’t accepted. I wondered what didn’t happen at this baptism that I was too young to remember that wasn’t acceptable to this church? So I dragged my feet and decided not to decide – which is really a decision in itself. I put it off. No baptism didn’t save me, but I delayed my spiritual growth by not following this first step of obedience. 

I learned there is a sequence in the Bible to follow – believe, and then be baptized. Mark 16:16  

After my health storm came and went, and I looked to Psalm 116 as a template of how to live for God, there wasn’t a doubt in my mind that I would participate in a believer’s baptism. God made a way for me to live, and my gratitude was through the roof. It encouraged me to put my feeling into action. So I decided to take the first step following a decision to believe and be baptized. Psalm 116 vs. 14 and 18 calls on the one delivered from death to take it public. “I will fulfill my vows to the LORD in the presence of His people.” Psalm 116:14 Psalm 116:18 

As we continue in post-Christian culture, God is working in it all. I think God’s up to something big. He wants wholehearted followers. And I believe that means more people in my age category will be coming to saving faith. Ones actively involved and interested in taking on the character of His Son, Jesus.